Titanic's Vibrant Underwater Community

Most people think that the deep ocean is a fairly desolate place; void of light and full of slightly anoxic waters. However, the wreck site of Titanic is a very vibrant area for unique sea life and activity. In several of my articles, I have talked about the microbes that are consuming the steel on Titanic. There have been over 20 distinct species of bacteria and two fungal species identified in the rusticles that cover all the exposed steel areas of Titanic. The teredo worms have consumed the ship's teak decking leaving only the caulk as a reminder of where the wood would of been placed.

Not all the sea life on the ship is microscopic. A fish that is a regular visitor to the Titanic site is the rat tail or the Coryphaenoides armatus.  The rat tail is the most common large species recorded at abyssal depths in the North Atlantic. A rare large species that occasionally visits Titanic is the dumbo octopus, also known as Grimpoteuthis. This octopus has large projections that make it look like the Disney character Dumbo and its large ears. Many photographs that you see on the bow section of Titanic will have miniature white lobsters hiding in the nooks of the steel. These white lobsters are called squat lobsters or Munidopsis; and can be the most common large species found on the wreck site. I have seen several varieties of shrimp on the wreck - some red and others that look like miniature candy-canes. Other sea life that look like sea growth or soft corals are called crinoids and hydroids that can be seen growing on several sections of wreckage - including the extreme bow railing.

There are many other varieties of life that can be found on Titanic and every voyage down to the site has the potential for discovery of a new underwater species. The ecosystem around Titanic is teeming with new and exotic life and this is a reason why many scientists are so fascinated with visiting the wreckage.

Comments

[Kristy]

I have been following the Titanic documentaries and I have been collecting memorbilia for years, but I wish I could find more. I love the history of the Titanic and I'd love to learn more.